Remote Procedure Call (RPC) - Study Notes for PSC, SSC, and IT Exams

Welcome to the Computer Science and Technology Study Materials section from CoreNetworkZ EdTech Solutions, a leading mock test and competitive exam preparation platform, for students preparing for SSC, DSSSB, and Kerala PSC examinations. Today, I will teach you one important topic in Network Engineering - Remote Procedure Call (RPC).

I received multiple questions from our students about this protocol regarding the application, working, and authentication methods. So, I will cover them in this tutorial.

Remote Procedure Call (RPC) is a protocol which works in the session layer of the OSI model and in the Application Layer of TCP/IP model. It is useful in developing network applications that need services from a remote computer in the network. With the help of the Remote Procedure Call, programmers need not worry about the complex structure of the OSI layer.

Let me answer one question asked by a reader now. Sherin Thomas asked in the comment section if RPC works in the TCP/IP model. Yes, Sherin, the RPC works in the Application Layer of the TCP/IP model.

SSC, DSSSB, and Kerala PSC conduct examinations for various IT posts.

Understanding Remote Procedure Call (RPC) is essential for candidates appearing for the DSSSB PGT/TGT Computer Science, Kerala PSC Degree Level Exam, SSC Scientific Assistant (CS), VSSC Technical Assistant, and System Analyst posts. These networking fundamentals are core parts of the Computer Science syllabus.

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Kerala PSC Degree Level examinations have a Computer Science section where students can expect questions from Remote Procedure Call (RPC). You can check the Kerala PSC Degree Level Common Prelims Syllabus under the Computer Science section. I recommend you download the syllabus using this official link.

Reference: https://www.keralapsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/2021-02/syllubus.pdf

Matteo Gentile asked me to explain the workings of the RPC protocol in simple steps in the comment section. Similarly, Emily Cereseto asked if this protocol supports UDP and TCP. The following four steps will answer their questions.

1. RPC is working as a client-server model

2. RPC uses different authentication methods to validate the client's request.

3. RPC protocol is independent of transport layer protocols.

4. RPC requests can use both UDP and TCP. But it prefers the UDP format.

Hongmei Xu, a beginner in network engineering, asked if RPC depends on the OSI Transport Layer protocols. The third step is the answer to her question.

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Ricky Santos asked me to explain the Remote Procedure Call Client-Server model. So, let me answer him.

In RPC, the client issues requests for certain services from the server through the network. A client is a computer or process that accesses the services or resources of another processor computer on the network. A server is a computer that provides services and resources. It implements network services. In short, the requesting program is a client, and the service-providing program is the server. According to the results, the authentication server may reject or accept the request.

Vivek Ramaswamy, a regular reader of this blog, asked me to explain RPC authentication methods. So, I will explain the three Remote Procedure Call (RPC) authentication methods in this section. Vivek is preparing for VSSC Technical Assistant exam.

1. Null Authentication

   Often calls must be made where the caller does not know who he is or the server does not care who the caller is.




2. UNIX Authentication

   The caller of a remote procedure may wish to identify himself as he is on a UNIX system.

   
   

3. DES Authentication

   DES Authentication is the advanced form of UNIX Authentication.

Tara Tom Akhavan asked a question in the comment section for a UNIX command to show the RPC programs running on her Linux laptop. The UNIX command to display the RPC programs that are registered on a specified computer is:

1. https://www.keralapsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/2021-02/syllubus.pdf
2. https://www.systosys.com/viewtopic.php?t=2
3. http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc1050.html